Just days after news more than 24,000 people have signed petitions opposing further expansion of coal exports, Port Metro Vancouver announced it will require Fraser Surrey Docks to conduct further environmental assessment ahead of a decision on its coal terminal proposal.

“Clearly the groundswell of public concern over this expansion project forced the port to act,” said Laura Benson, Coal Campaigner for Dogwood Initiative. “But the announcement from the port and Fraser Surrey Docks gives little detail and offers no real assurances potential health and ecological impacts will be studied in a comprehensive, independent and transparent way, as called for by our medical officers.”

Fraser and Vancouver Coastal chief medical officers Paul VanBuynder and Patricia Daly have called on the port to commission a Health Impact Assessment (HIA) ahead of a decision on the Fraser Surrey Docks project. In addition to the widespread public support for this call, several city councils and the board of Metro Vancouver have also requested an HIA.

So far doctors VanBuynder and Daly have not commented on the announcement from the port. “We are eager to hear the opinion of our medical officers,” Benson said. “Based on what we’ve seen so far it is very hard to believe this assessment will comply with the officers’ request and meet international standards for health impact assessments.”

Both the port and Fraser Surrey Docks estimated the environmental impact assessment would take a few weeks to complete, increasing doubt that the assessment will produce the kind of data that local residents deserve about potential risks to public health, the local environment and the global climate.

Alberta premier announces crackdown on climate groups This week oil evangelist Jason Kenney launched a witch hunt – complete with a snitch line, a bully pulpit and a taxpayer-funded public inquiry. Kenney isn’t targeting women suspected of using black magic, like the Puritans of the 1600s. Or supposed Cold War Communists like infamous U.S. Senator […]

For immediate release BURNABY — Dogwood volunteers are hitting the streets in key B.C. communities to show Prime Minister Justin Trudeau he is out of touch with the voters he needs to win the next election. The Canadian government bought the Trans Mountain pipeline after mounting risks made the highly controversial project unviable under private […]

For immediate release June 27, 2018 “CALL IN THE COPS” — BRITISH COLUMBIANS WANT ACTION ON MONEY-LAUNDERING VANCOUVER — British Columbians are calling for a dedicated anti-corruption task force, like the UPAC police unit in Quebec, to investigate connections between money-laundering, drug dealers, major political donors and B.C. politicians. “Today’s release of the first German […]